Polygonal box and precut plank useful for making same

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a polygonal box and to a precut sheet that can be used to make it. A polygonal box ( 1 ) comprising (I) first, second and third faces ( 2 ), ( 3 ), ( 4 ), (II) an apex surface ( 5 ) comprising a first lid ( 6 ), and (III) a base surface ( 7 ) comprising a second lid ( 8 ), each of the first, second and third faces ( 2 ), ( 3 ), ( 4 ) having (a) a respective first edge ( 9 ), ( 10 ), ( 11 ) in common with the apex surface ( 5 ) and (b) a respective second edge ( 12 ), ( 13 ), ( 14 ) in common with the base surface ( 7 ), the first lid ( 6 ) being connected to the first common edge ( 9 ) of the first face ( 2 ), the second face ( 3 ) comprising a first folding flap ( 15 ) connected to the first common edge ( 10 ), the said first folding flap ( 15 ) being inserted under the first lid ( 6 ).  
     The polygonal box ( 1 ) is characterized in that the first folding flap ( 15 ) comprises a first surface ( 16 ) which, on its perimeter, has a first region ( 17 ) of relatively low mechanical strength and in that the first surface ( 16 ) is pressed against and secured to the first lid ( 6 ) when it is folded down and rendered coplanar with the apex surface ( 5 ).

The present invention relates to the packaging industry.

More specifically, the invention relates to a polygonal box comprising(I) first, second and third faces, (II) an apex surface comprising afirst lid, and (III) a base surface comprising a second lid, each of thefirst, second and third faces having (a) a first edge in common with theapex surface and (b) a second edge in common with the base surface, thefirst lid being connected to the first common edge of the first face,the second face comprising a first folding flap connected to the firstcommon edge, the said first folding flap being inserted under the firstlid.

Boxes of this type are well known in the art and have been usedsuccessfully for many years. These boxes can be opened and closed agreat many times without visible alteration to their appearance, thusgiving them great durability.

However, as the very result of the absence of visible alteration oftheir appearance, these boxes are vulnerable to fraudulent operationsaimed, for example, at substituting their original contents with other,undesirable products.

Thus, a need for solutions allowing detection of fraudulent handling ofthe products contained in the boxes while at the same time making itpossible to guarantee that the capacity for repeated opening and closureis maintained has been felt.

Techniques aimed at detecting undesirable opening are known. Forexample, one commonly proposed solution consists in affixing a seal tothe opening device. However, a would-be miscreant can easily get aroundthis solution by repositioning by bonding the pulled-off seal or byaffixing a replacement seal, seals generally being fairly inexpensive toproduce.

The present invention alleviates all these drawbacks. Thus, the saidpolygonal box is characterized in that the first folding flap comprisesa first surface which, on its perimeter, has a first region ofrelatively low mechanical strength and in that the first surface ispressed against and secured to the first lid when it is folded down andrendered coplanar with the apex surface.

As a result, when a box according to the invention is opened by pivotingthe first lid about the axis consisting of the first edge common to thefirst lid and to the first face, opening causes the first flap to betorn along the first region of relatively low mechanical strength, thefirst surface remaining secured to the first lid.

The benefit of the invention also lies in the great difficulty there isin repairing the box should a miscreant wish to conceal the fact thatthe box has been opened.

According to a preferred embodiment, the second lid may be connected tothe first face by its second common edge, and the box may furthercomprise a second folding flap, connected to the second face by itssecond common edge. The second folding flap may be inserted under thesecond lid. As a preference, the second folding flap may comprise asecond surface which, on its perimeter, has a second region ofrelatively low mechanical strength and the second surface is pressedagainst and secured to the second lid when it is folded down andrendered coplanar with the base surface.

Thus, protection according to the invention may also be applied jointlyto the device for closing the base face of the box.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first lid further comprises afirst folding tab which is inserted under the third face when the firstlid is folded down, the third face comprising a third surface which, onits perimeter, has a third region of relatively low mechanical strength.The said first tab may then be pressed against and secured to the thirdsurface.

According to a preferred embodiment, the second lid may comprise asecond folding tab which is inserted under the third face. The thirdface may comprise a fourth surface which, on its perimeter, has a fourthregion of relatively low mechanical strength. The second tab may bepressed against and secured to the fourth surface.

According to a very preferred feature of the invention, the material ofwhich the polygonal box is made is anisotropic.

The use of an anisotropic material when manufacturing the box makes itpossible to increase the difficulties that a would-be miscreantencounters in concealing the operation of opening the box. Indeed, ithas been found, surprisingly, that the use of an anisotropic materialled to tearing being obtained with greater or lesser degrees of forcedepending on the orientation of the anistropy of the material withrespect to the first region of relatively lower mechanical strength.

As a preference, the anisotropic material may have a relatively hightensile strength along an axis parallel to an edge chosen among thefirst and second common edges.

In this case, the anisotropic material may be considered as having anuninterrupted succession of parallel regions of relatively lowmechanical strength. Tears can be generated on, for example, the firstflap, with a not insignificant probability of them occurring in a regionother than the first region of relatively lower mechanical strength.

The benefit of such a material in this application is twofold:

-   -   When opening a sample of boxes exhibiting this characteristic, a        very high proportion of boxes may have tears at sites other than        the first flap, making operations of camouflaging the opening        difficult to standardize.    -   Because of the possibility of tearing at places other than the        first region of relatively lower mechanical strength, the        generating of such a first region of relatively lower mechanical        strength may conceivably be avoided. In consequence, the steps        involved in manufacturing the box are thereby reduced.

As a preference, the relatively high tensile strength of the anisotropicmaterial may be obtained by incorporating oriented textile fibres.

As a preference, the oriented textile fibres are selected from the groupconsisting of cellulose, viscose, cotton, flax, hemp, nettle, wool,silk, a polyester, a nylon, a polyolefin, an aramid.

These textile fibres may be present in the form of woven yarns.

According to a more preferred embodiment, the polygonal box according tothe invention may further comprise a fourth face, the said fourth facecomprising (I) a third folding flap which is inserted under the firstlid and (II) a fourth folding flap which is inserted under the secondlid.

A common example of a box meeting this definition may be a rectangularparallelepipedal box with four lateral faces, one apex face and one baseface.

According to a more preferred embodiment, the third folding flap maycomprise a fifth surface which, on its perimeter, has a fifth region ofrelatively low mechanical strength. The fifth surface is pressed againstand secured to the first lid when it is folded down and renderedcoplanar with the apex surface. The fourth folding flap may comprise asixth surface which, on its perimeter, has a sixth region of relativelylow mechanical strength. The sixth surface is pressed against andsecured to the second lid when it is folded down and rendered coplanarwith the base surface.

A polygonal box according to the invention is more preferably still mademainly of cardboard.

Having printed designs on its surface, this cardboard may be coated witha polymer film giving it protection against moisture. Of course, thispolymer film must not significantly affect the properties of thematerial as sought here. An acceptable polymer film may comprise apolyethylene, a polypropylene, a polystyrene, a halogenated polyolefinsuch as a polyvinyl chloride or a polyfluoroethylene.

The present invention also relates to a precut fold-up sheet that can beused to make a polygonal box.

The present invention is illustrated hereinbelow by a non-limitingexample in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a box according to a preferredembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a precut sheet that can be used in manufacturing a boxdepicted in FIG. 1. It of course corresponds to the appearance that thisbox has when unfolded.

FIG. 1 depicts a polygonal box 1. The latter comprises (I) first, secondand third faces denoted 2, 3, 4, respectively, (II) an apex surface 5comprising a first lid 6, and (III) a base surface 7, comprising asecond lid 8.

Each of the first, second and third faces 2, 3, 4 has (a) a respectivefirst edge 9, 10, 11 in common with the apex surface 5, and (b) arespective second edge 12, 13, 14 in common with the base surface 7.

The first lid 6 is connected to the first common edge 9 of the firstface 2. The second face 3 comprises a first folding flap 15 connected tothe first common edge 10. The first folding flap 15 is inserted underthe first lid 6. The polygonal box 1 has, as a specific feature, a firstsurface 16 on the first folding flap 15. This first surface 16, on itsperimeter, has a first region 17 of relatively low mechanical strength.

The relatively low mechanical strength of the first region 17 isobtained by holing or partially cutting along the perimeter of thesurface 16. Another way of producing such a region of lesser strengthmay consist of reducing the thickness of the material of which the boxis made, or alternatively of a combination of all these means.

When the first lid 6 is folded down and rendered coplanar with the apexsurface 5, the first surface 16 is pressed against and secured to thefirst lid 6. Securing between the first surface 16 and the first lid 6may be obtained by means of an appropriate adhesive or a weld in thecase where the material of which the box is made can be welded, forexample in the case of certain plastics.

The second lid 8 is connected to the first face 2 by its second commonedge 12. A second folding flap 18 is connected to the second face 3 byits second common edge 13.

The second folding flap 18 is inserted under the second lid 8. Thesecond folding flap 18 comprises a second surface 19 which, on itsperimeter, has a second region 20 of relatively low mechanical strength.The means of producing the region of relatively low mechanical strengthon the second region 20 may be chosen from those that can be used forthe first region of relatively low mechanical strength 17.

The second surface 19 is pressed against and secured to the second lid 8which is shown here folded down and rendered coplanar with the basesurface 7. As before, acceptable means of securing include adhesivebonding and welding.

The first lid 6 furthermore comprises a first folding tab 21 which isinserted under the third face 4 when the said first lid 6 is foldeddown. The third face 4 comprises a third surface 22 which, on itsperimeter, has a third region 23 of relatively low mechanical strength.The first tab 21 is pressed against and secured to the third surface 22when the box is closed.

Similarly, the second lid 8 comprises a second folding tab 24 which isinserted under the third face 4. The third face 4 comprises a fourthsurface 25 which, on its perimeter, has a fourth region 26 of relativelylow mechanical strength. The second tab 24 is pressed against andsecured to the fourth surface 25 when the box is closed.

The polygonal box 1 comprises a fourth face 27. The latter comprises (I)a third folding flap 28 which is inserted under the first lid 6 and (II)a fourth folding flap 29 which is inserted under the second lid 8.

The third folding flap 28 comprises a fifth surface 30 which, on itsperimeter, has a fifth region 31 of relatively low mechanical strength.

When the lid 6 is in a closed position, not depicted, the fifth surface30 is pressed against and secured to the first lid 6 when it is foldeddown and rendered coplanar with the apex surface 5.

The fourth folding flap 29 comprises a sixth surface 32 which, on itsperimeter, has a sixth region 33 of relatively low mechanical strength.The sixth surface 32 is pressed against and secured to the second lid 8,which is coplanar with the base surface 7.

The first face 2 comprises a lateral tab 35 which is pressed against andsecured to the fourth face 27.

The polygonal box 1 is made mainly of cardboard. That is to say thatcardboard is its main constituent, and that it may possibly be combinedwith a paper covering and/or an additional layer of an insulatingmaterial such as a polymer film.

FIG. 2 depicts a precut sheet 34 that can be used to manufacture a boxas described in FIG. 1.

The precut sheet 34 comprises first, second, third and fourth faces 2,3, 4, 27, respectively, separated by folds 37 to 39. A lateral tab 35 issecured to the first face 2 and separated therefrom by a fold 36parallel to the folds 37 to 39.

The first face 2 also comprises folds 40, 41 perpendicular to the folds36 and 37. The first face is thus represented by a rectangularparallelepiped delimited by edges which are the folds 36, 37 and 40, 41.

A first lid 6 is secured to the first face 2 and separated therefrom bythe fold 40.

Likewise, a second lid 8 is secured to the first face 2 and is separatedtherefrom by the fold 41.

First and second folding tabs 21, 24 are separated from the first andsecond lids 6, 8 respectively by folds 42 and 43. These folds 42 and 43are parallel to the folds 40 and 41.

First and second folding flaps 15, 18 are secured to and separated fromthe second face 3 by folds 44, 45 parallel to the folds 40 and 41.

The first folding flap 15 comprises a first surface 16 which, on itsperimeter, has a first region 17 of relatively low mechanical strength.The first region 17 here corresponds to holing or a cut.

Likewise, the second folding flap 18 comprises a second surface 19which, on its perimeter, has a second region 20 of relatively lowmechanical strength.

The third face 4 comprises third and fourth surfaces 22, 25 which, ontheir perimeter, have third and fourth regions 23, 26 respectively, ofrelatively low mechanical strength. The third and fourth regions 23, 26here correspond to holing or a cut.

Third and fourth folding flaps 28, 29 are secured to and separated fromthe fourth face 27 by folds 46, 47 collinear with the folds 44 and 45.

The third folding flap 28 comprises a fifth surface 30 which, on itsperimeter, has a fifth region 31 of relatively low mechanical strength.The fifth region 31 here corresponds to holing or a cut.

Likewise, the fourth folding flap 29 comprises a sixth surface 32 which,on its perimeter, has a sixth region 33 of relatively low mechanicalstrength, in the form of a cut.

The material of which the precut sheet 34 is made is anisotropic. Theanisotropy is represented by the double-headed arrow 48 which indicatesthe axis along which the material has the greatest tensile strength,relative to a perpendicular direction. The double-headed arrow 48 isoriented parallel to the folds 40 to 47.

In this case, the axis of anisotropy, represented by the double-headedarrow 48, is also parallel to the first, second, fifth and sixth regions17, 20, 31 and 33, respectively. This has the advantage of making theseeasier to detach when they are subjected to stress, while at the sametime limiting the risk of tearing outside of these regions.

According to an embodiment which has not been depicted, the axis ofanisotropy may exhibit slight angular variations without significantlyaltering the properties of the material. Thus, a deviation by a fewdegrees, for example by ±10 degrees allows satisfactory mechanicalproperties to be maintained. Furthermore, if detachment of the third andfourth surfaces 22 and 25 is to be encouraged, it will be beneficial toorient the axis of anisotropy parallel to at least some of the third andfourth regions 23 and 26 and this may, in some cases, play a part inorienting the axis of anisotropy at right angles to the positiondepicted in FIG. 2.

1. A polygonal box (1) comprising: (a) an apex surface (5) comprising afirst lid (6), (b) a base surface (7) comprising a second lid (8), (c) afirst face (2) having an edge (9) in common with said apex surface (5)and an edge (12) in common with said base surface (7), (d) a second face(3) having an edge (10) in common with said apex surface (5) and an edge(13) in common with said base surface (7), wherein said second face (3)comprises a first folding flap (15) having a mechanical strength, andsaid first folding flap (15) comprises a first surface (16) having onits perimeter a first region (17) having a mechanical strength less thanthat of said folding flap (15), (e) a third face (4) having a mechanicalstrength and an edge (11) in common with said apex surface (5) and anedge (14) in common said base surface (7), wherein said first lid (6) isconnected to said edge (9) said second face (3) is connected to saidedge (10), said first folding flap (15) is inserted under said first lid(6), and said first surface (16) is pressed against, and secured to saidfirst lid (6) when said first lid (6) is folded down and renderedcoplanar with said apex surface (5).
 2. The polygonal box (1) accordingto claim 1, wherein said second lid (8) further comprises a secondfolding flap (18) having a mechanical strength, and comprising a secondsurface (19) having on its perimeter a second region (20) comprising amechanical strength less than that of said second folding flap (18),wherein said edge (13) connects said second folding flap (18) with saidsecond surface (3), said second folding flap (18) is inserted under saidsecond lid (8), and said second surface (19) is pressed against andsecured to said second lid (8) when said second lid (8) is folded downand rendered coplanar with the base surface (7).
 3. The polygonal box(1) according to claim 1 wherein said first lid (6) further comprises afirst folding tab (21) which is inserted under said third face (4) whensaid first lid (6) is folded down, and said third face (4) furthercomprises a third surface (22) which, on its perimeter, has a thirdregion (23) having a mechanical strength less than said mechanicalstrength of said third face (4), said first tab (21) is pressed against,and secured to said third surface (22).
 4. The polygonal box (1)according to claim 1, wherein said second lid (8) further comprises asecond folding tab (24), and said third face (4) further comprises afourth surface (25) which, on its perimeter, has a fourth region (26)with a mechanical strength less than said mechanical strength of saidthird face (4), wherein said second folding tab (24) is inserted undersaid third face (4), said second tab (24) is pressed against, andsecured to said fourth surface (25).
 5. The polygonal (1) according toclaim 1 made of an anistropic material.
 6. The polygonal box (1)according to claim 5, wherein said anistropic material has a tensilestrength sufficient to prevent complete tearing of said anisotropicmaterial along an axis parallel to an edge chosen among the first andsecond common edges (9) to (14).
 7. The polygonal box (1) according toclaim 6, wherein the tensile strength of said anistropic material isobtained by incorporating oriented textile fibers into said anisotropicmaterial.
 8. The polygonal box (1) according to claim 7, wherein saidtextile fibers are made of a material selected from the group consistingof cellulose, viscose, cotton, flax, hemp, nettle, wool, silk, apolyester, a nylon, a polyolefin, an aramid, and a mixture thereof. 9.The polygonal box (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a fourthface (27) that comprises, a third folding flap (28), which is insertedunder said first lid (6), and a fourth folding flap (29), which isinserted under the second lid (8).
 10. The polygonal box (1) accordingto claim 9, wherein: (a) said third folding flap (28) further comprisesa fifth surface (30) which, on its perimeter, has a region (31) having amechanical strength less than the mechanical strength of said fifthsurface, wherein said fifth surface (30) is pressed against and securedto said first lid (6) when said first lid (6) is folded down andrendered coplanar with the apex surface (5); and (b) said in that thefourth folding flap (29) further comprises a sixth surface (32) which,on its perimeter, has a sixth region (33) having a mechanical strengthless than the mechanical strength of said sixth surface, wherein saidsixth surface (32) is pressed against and secured to the second lid (8)when said second lid (8) is folded down and rendered coplanar with thebase surface (7).
 11. The polygonal box (1) according to claim 1 whereinsaid box is made of cardboard.
 12. A precut fold-up sheet (34) that canbe used to make a polygonal box (1) according to any one of thepreceding claims when a subsequent folding step, followed, if necessary,by a bonding step, is performed.